Monday, August 25, 2014

Genoa Candy Dance

September 27th & 28th
9am-5pm
The Genoa "Candy Dance" originated in 1919 as an effort to raise money to purchase street lights for the small, but enterprising community of Genoa, Nevada's first settlement. Lillian Virgin Finnegan, daughter of then prominent Judge Daniel Webster Virgin, suggested the idea of a dance and making candy to pass around during the dance as an incentive for a good "turn-out" of couples.
With the help of her aunt, Jane Raycraft Campbell, and the female populous of Genoa, delicious samples of candy really made the evening special. Of course, the midnight supper served at the Raycraft Hotel was, as always, a culinary delight. So, if the candy did not entice people to join in the fun, the midnight supper was surely an incentive.

The Genoa community did raise the needed funds for streetlights, but realized the monthly electric bill had to be paid. The candy makers were then called upon each year to help promote the "Candy Dance" and pay a year's worth of electricity for the streetlights throughout the town. This annual event became the "Big Event of the Season." Couples came from Reno, Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville and surrounding areas to join in the evening's fun.

The Arts & Crafts Faire was added in the 1970s, and later became a two-day event. The first Faire was held on the front lawn of a private residence in Sierra Shadows on Genoa Lane with twelve vendors. A few years later the popular Faire was moved to the Mormon Station Historic State Monument grounds. Expanding proved necessary and now Faire exhibitors are also found along Nixon Street, and along the sides of Genoa Lane and Main Street. With all the people visiting the Faire these days, the streets in and out of Genoa are temporarily closed during the day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shuttles bring people from the main parking lots on Genoa Lane and Foothill Road, as well as the limited parking lot at the Genoa Cemetery. There is also a shuttle that runs from the Carson Valley Inn and Douglas High School to the Genoa Lane parking lot.

The "Candy Dance" is still held each year with music from a live band playing everything from rock-n-roll, country-western, swing and hop to waltzes for all ages. Everyone is invited to the Saturday night dinner and dance. A limited number of tickets are sold to the event. 2009's dinner-dance in Genoa Park was a huge success with over 700 tickets sold. However, cold weather does reduce attendance at the outdoor dinner-dance.

Generation after generation has continued the candy making and Faire tradition. The funds raised by the Town of Genoa during the Candy Dance weekend provide a substantial portion of the town's annual budget. We will be celebrating the "Candy Dance" as long as we have volunteers to keep it going, and we thank all our volunteers for their hard work.

The 94th Annual Candy Dance will offer over 300 craft and food vendors.  For tickets and more information, including dinner menu and musical performers, visit: genoanevada.org

Monday, August 11, 2014

Carson Tahoe Moto

                                                                                    photo credit:  Brad Coman
A great motorcycle ride in the Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe area might be all pavement, or mostly dirt, or a combination of both.  The Carson Valley is fortunate to be very close to hundreds of miles-thousands, really-of-scenic, twisty, uncongested roads.  If you are a street rider and new to the area, head out for some of the High Sierra passes.  Carson Pass, Ebbetts Pass, and Monitor Pass are all within about an hour's ride of the Carson Valley.  Sonora Pass, Tioga Pass, and Donner Pass are all within two hours.  And the roads to any of those passes are beautiful in their own right.  A ride over five of these great mountain passes in a single day is completely feasible.  To do it, you'll ride hard, return tired, and won't have a lot of time to stop and see the sights.  But you will have on of the best days of your life.

If you're looking for rides on dirt and gravel roads, some of the best dirt riding you'll find anywhere is in the Pine Nut Mountains, on the eastern edge of the Carson Valley.  Wide, maintained main roads with firm dirt and loose gravel surfaces can get you into and across the mountains at surprisingly fast speeds.

Our area offers a huge variety of great adventure motorcycle rides, whatever type of bike you like to ride, and however you define adventure.  Grab your gear, decide whether you want to ride pavement or dirt, and then ask yourself, "How hard to I want to ride today?"                                        By: J.Brandon

August 21-24
Carson Tahoe Moto Event
Carson Valley / Lake Tahoe Adventure Motorcycle Ride is your invitation to a blowout of motorcycle enthusiasts who love discovery and the adventure of riding in remote and exceptional natural environments. The camaraderie and fellowship shared among passionate motorcyclists celebrating the freedom of riding.
The Adventure Moto is a unique adventure motorcycle gathering located in the beautiful Carson Valley. Supported financially by the Carson Valley tourism business community, our objective is to become the premier on/off-road gathering for adventure motorcycle enthusiasts in the West. The natural beauty and riding terrain around the Carson Valley / Lake Tahoe area, combined with the existing resort tourism hotels, restaurants and activities, make the Carson Valley the best place anywhere to attend an adventure motorcycling event. On or off the bike and on or off the road.

To learn more or register for this event:  carsontahoemoto.com

Monday, August 4, 2014

Fresh Produce!

Carson Valley 
Farmer's Markets
 
If you are looking for local fresh fruit and vegetables, gluten free products, live music to entertain you while you shop, oh, and not to mention specialty booths for those eclectic finds.......Join us on Tuesday from 4pm-8pm on Esmeralda Ave. in Minden and Wednesday from 9am-1pm on Mill St. in Gardnerville.  You'll never know what you will find from week to week!